CSCMP Explores…

Each issue of CSCMP Explores… is written by a leading expert and summarizes recent, high-impact supply chain management research, trends, and best practices. Explores… is an efficient, effective way to keep up with a changing supply chain environment. Every issue is a brief booklet (like sister publication CSCMP Global Perspectives) that still provides enough in-depth information to help understand new or different approaches to the art and science of the supply chain.

What can CSCMP Explores… do for you?

Explores… has enjoyed a rich history of invaluable coverage of supply chain hot topics, since its inception eight years ago.

Explores

The new store level DRP systems are technology solutions that enable retailers and manufacturers to build shared plans for consumer demand and supply, as well as design and deliver winning products while lowering variable operating and capital costs. This CSCMP Explores... explains store level DRP and how it can be leveraged through improved end-to-end business relationships. CODE-EXP

Research carried out by Iowa State University and sponsored by C. H. Robinson and TMC, a division of C.H. Robinson, provides new insights into the shelf life of TL rates. The work represents a milestone in truck transportation procurement strategy, and has major implications for the management of freight costs. Here, we will discuss the highlights of the research findings. CODE-EXP

The supply chain is more dependent than ever on flows of materials, services, and products from trading partners. Today, business leaders are able to see flows within their own companies, but the gaps in visibility between trading partners is high and creates a barrier to commerce. CODE-EXP

Innovation happens in business firms, sometimes intentionally, sometimes serendipitously. But just what is a supply chain innovation? Delivering Successful Supply Chain Innovations: Lessons from CSCMP's Innovation Award Winners explores how supply chain managers can get better at finding/developing innovations and how they can make their innovation efforts more successful. CODE-EXP

Humanitarian Relief: Broken Supply Chains and the Role of the Private Sector explores how logistics and supply chain professionals can play a role in filling in important gaps in the humanitarian supply chain. The United Nations believes that the global demand for humanitarian assistance will only continue to rise due to escalating conflicts, and a dramatic increase in vulnerabilities caused by financial crises, increasing food scarcity/prices, insufficiency of energy and water, and... Details

This issue of CSCMP Explores… examines supply chain organizational design as a valuable tool to respond to an increasingly dynamic business environment. One way to tackle the challenges and exploit the opportunities associated with changing environments is to increase structural flexibility within supply chain management organizations (SCMO). Structural flexibility enables a firm to remain “change ready” and be able to adjust the SCMO organizational design to meet ever-changing... Details

In the past five years, we have conducted over 700 interviews with managers across all industries as part of the UT College of Business Supply Chain Audit Program. At the end of every interview, we always ask: If you could change the world, what would you do to improve things in your company? By far the most common answer to that question is the desire for a utopia in which all of the functions in the company work together and are perfectly aligned toward a common purpose. People we... Details

Relationship Governance: Understanding the Dynamics of Supply Chain Integration is designed to assist managers in developing an integrated supply chain network, not only across the four walls of their firms, but also externally with key suppliers and customers. Despite recognition of the importance of an integrated supply chain approach, managers continue to struggle with developing high-level integration across their supply chain network. This struggle often requires... Details

This CSCMP Explores…, The Influence of Product Design on the Sustainability Performance of Supply Chain, examines the importance and implications of coordinating the design of products and supply chains to produce sustainability and presents a tool that could help identify the most desired product and supply chain design in terms of economic, environmental, and societal sustainability benefits. Sustainability has now become a part of mainstream strategic policy and the planning... Details

Many US public companies are now in the middle of their efforts to comply with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) conflict minerals rule. The rule, created as a result of Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act, requires SEC issuers to determine if their products contain conflict minerals that originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or adjacent countries and, if so, disclose certain information about the conflict minerals. The SEC estimates that... Details

Imagine that a company makes a strategic change in its supply chain. Sales and profits increase nicely as a direct result, but transportation spending increases much faster than sales. Despite the transportation cost increases, this was likely a good move for the organization. However, the executive in charge of transportation must still explain why he is significantly over budget. And often, he must deliver this explanation to someone who may not have a transportation background.... Details

Since 1963, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) has been providing networking, career development, and educational opportunities to the logistics and supply chain management community.